The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that the failure of the Federal Government to fully implement the 2025 agreement signed with the union, including the payment of withheld salaries and allowances, is threatening the fragile peace in public universities across Nigeria.
The union also rejected claims by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, that all demands of ASUU have been met and that there is no basis for industrial action.
The Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Lagos Zone, Prof. Adesola Nassir, stated this on Wednesday during a briefing on the status of implementation of the 2025 FGN/ASUU agreement and ongoing engagements with government over outstanding issues.
Prof. Nassir said that five months after the agreement was signed, members nationwide remain agitated over what he described as government’s failure to implement key aspects of the deal, particularly withheld salaries and allowances.
He explained that some of the key components of the agreement include the Consolidated Academic Allowances (CATA), Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), and Professorial Allowances (PA), which were expected to be integrated into the Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS) as part of monthly salaries from January 2026.
According to him, the developments since the signing of the agreement suggest that the government may be more interested in political optics than in addressing the core issues that led to the disruptions in the university system.
He acknowledged the government’s position encouraging university managements to begin implementing salary-related aspects of the agreement as a stop-gap pending the 2026 budget but raised concerns over inconsistencies in implementation across institutions.
Prof. Nassir said the union was worried that universities were not given adequate guidance or funding support to cover salary shortfalls, leading to what he described as haphazard implementation that contradicts government’s claims of full compliance.
He also expressed concern over the government’s perceived unwillingness to reimburse universities for funds used to manage the salary adjustments.
He further noted that some state visitors to universities were failing to ensure compliance with the agreement, despite their institutions being involved in the negotiation process.
According to him, if the issues are not addressed, they could disrupt industrial harmony in the university system.
Prof. Nassir confirmed that four state-owned universities have already begun implementing the agreement, including Olabisi Onabanjo University, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ekiti State University, and Osun State University.
He called on the Lagos State Government to urgently commence implementation across its institutions, including Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), and Lagos State University of Education (LASUED).
He urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as Visitor to the universities, to intervene and prevent possible staff unrest over the issue, adding that Lagos State should ideally lead in implementing and improving on the agreement.
ASUU said its members are increasingly frustrated and that the union is presenting their concerns to the public as it continues engagement with government.
Prof. Nassir warned that continued delay or neglect of the agreement could trigger renewed industrial tensions across public universities nationwide.
